Visit Number Three

Morning breakfast was in progress in the Agarwal household. Taiji as usual, was issuing a number of instructions to every family member, trying to emphasize her importance in the household.

Since Naina's visits to her sasural had started, Sunday had lost some of its lazy laid-back feel. Bela would get the morning breakfast underway earlier than usual, just to ensure that she was in no way responsible for any delays. Chachaji would start planning and allocating the pick and drop duties for the day. Preeti would get very involved in selecting Naina's outfit for the day. Luckily, since Nanaji's insistence during the last visit that she need not wear a saree every time, the choice of outfit and the task of getting ready had been simplified.

Bela called Naina in the kitchen and said "Naina, yeh Mung-dal-halwa zara do minute hilate rehna aur phir upar se yeh dry fruits dal dena." Naina was slightly puzzled as per why she had been explicitly called for this. Bela then went on to explain "Apne sath udhar le jana. Beta, acha nahi lagta aise khali hath tujhe waha bhejna. Aur kehna tune banaya hai." Naina objected "Chachiji, par maine toh banaya nahi hai..." Chachiji responded "Aare, ab bana toh rahi hai na... dus minute hilya kya aur do minute... kaunsa bahoot bada fark padta hai... waise bhi tujhe banate aata toh hai hi." Naina just smiled at her Chachiji's logic.

That day when she reached there, Ramdhari told her that Nanaji was in the garden and wanted her to join him there. She handed over the Halwa to him "Yeh Mung-dal-halwa laya hai. Khane ke sath paros dena. Aur thoda baad mein..." Ramdhari smiled in understanding "Bhabhi, aap chinta mat kijiye. Hum Sameer bhaiya ko bhi sham ko kheela denge." Naina thanked him with a smile and headed to the garden.

Nanaji was busy overseeing the gardener, discussing some new plants that he wanted. Naina ended up getting a crash course that day. She learnt about some seasonal plants, the optimal frequency of adding fertilizers, advantages of trimming the plants and so on. Having a garden was a new and exciting experience. Nanaji seeing her enthusiasm promised her that she could have a small patch towards the back once she moved here, so she could experiment with growing some herbs and vegetables.

Time went by very quickly and it was a little past the usual lunch time by the time they headed indoors. Nanaji needed to read through some papers urgently, but couldn't find his new reading glasses. As they looked around for them, he remembered that he had most probably left them upstairs "Naina, mujhe lagta shayad upar Sameer ke room mein hi reh gaye hai. Subhe main usse kuch papers dikhane gaya tha upar. Zara leke aao beta, yeh gardening ke chakkar mein aaj ghutno mein zara dard hone laga hai."

Naina headed upstairs feeling a little apprehensive, though not quite sure why. She paused for a few seconds outside the slightly ajar door to his room, and then taking a deep breath pushed the door open.

It felt very strange being in his room by herself. Her eyes darted to that carpet which had caused her so much embarrassment the last time she was in the room and then to the photo frame. The photo frame now lay face down on the bedside table. But being on her own today, she felt much more comfortable than the last time. This time she took her time looking around. She walked to the punching bag and playfully threw a punch at it, only wincing in fleeting pain. She rubbed her knuckles for a bit and focused her attention on the Julie Roberts poster, which looked like it had been there for a while... slightly yellow in places. It has probably traveled with him to Ahmedabad from somewhere she thought, feeling a little jealous of the beauty in the poster.

As she walked towards his study table, she saw a light-yellow t-shirt lying on the floor and a pair of jeans carelessly thrown across a small wooden sofa. It seemed he had left in a hurry earlier in the day. She picked up the t-shirt and folded it, but instead of putting it down immediately held it gently feeling the fabric. As if she was trying to feel some of his essence that might have transferred to the fabric when it had clung to him. Next to the sofa was a small table with a phone on it. She wondered if he had called her that one time using this phone and sitting on that sofa. The memory of that phone call brought a frown to her face. Trying to shake off that memory, she walked closer to his study table. It was fairly neat and tidy, a Walkman was lying on it, she recalled him mentioning that he listened to music before sleeping at night.

Downstairs, Nanaji heard some noise and turned towards the door expecting Naina to be back with his reading glasses, instead was surprised to see his grandson standing there. Sameer had returned home much earlier than expected and had been surprised to see his Nanu sitting by himself in the lounge. One glance at the dining table and the two unused plates there meant they hadn't eaten any lunch yet. He looked at time and noted that it was definitely well past midday. And she wasn't here. Wasn't she supposed to be here by 11 am? Did she never really show up on time and did his Nanu just cover up for her praising her unnecessarily? No, Nanu wouldn't do that, he would never lie, Sameer thought with utmost conviction.

Nanaji noticing him said "Aare, tu itne jaldi kaise wapas aa gaya? Sab theek hai?" Sameer replied "Ha, woh match cancel ho gaya. Toh thodi der humne practice ki lekin phir kisika mood nahi tha lamba rukne ka." Again, taking a look at the dining table, he continued sounding a little miffed "Aap ne ab tak khana nahi khaya? Naina aayi nahi ab tak?" Nanaji replied calmly "Aaj zara woh maali ke sath jyada time nikal gaya... samjha hi nahi. Isiliye khana nahi khaya ab tak." He prompted again "Aur Naina?" Nanaji explained "Aayi hai na. Bus upar gayi hai, mere reading glasses shayad tumhare room mein reh gaye hai. Lagta hai usse mil nahi rahe hai. Zara dekho beta."

Hearing she was upstairs in his room by herself, he felt something a little funny in his guts and headed upstairs. After taking two steps at a time the first couple of times, he reminded himself to slow down and approached the room quietly. It was a strange sight, seeing her standing there by his study table, looking at his books once again. Though this time she was not draped in a hazardous saree, but in a dark forest green shalwar-kameez. He thought it was surprisingly simple for a visit here, based on their previous interactions outside college, he would have expected her to dress up much more.

So, she really does like books, he thought. He then noticed that she was holding something close to her. And it looked like the t-shirt he had discarded in a rush before heading out in that morning. What was she doing with it?!

As if feeling the intensity of his gaze, her head jerked in his direction. Her eyes once again widened in surprise, a look that now felt familiar to him. She seemed a little flustered to see him appear there unexpectedly and said sounding a little uncertain "Aap... yaha kaise?" He replied after a few seconds, with a slight frown on his face "Jaha tak mujhe yaad hai, ghar aur kamra dono mere hai." She coloured a little bit "Nahi... matlab... aap iss waqt yaha kaise? Aap ka toh match hai na." He explained to her as well "Match cancel ho gaya. Woh dusri team jiss train se aa rahi thi woh beech mein barish ki waja se atak gayi." She responded in understanding "O... Issi liye..."

She was seeing him dressed in his cricket whites for the first time. Naina had grown up seeing boys in white as her brother played cricket too but seeing him in them left her a little breathless. His shoulders seemed to look much broader than what she remembered them. She asked him "Aap batting karte ho?" He nodded "Ha, waise toh main opening karta hu mere team ke liye. Par, usually kuch over ke liye balling bhi karta hu." She nodded too, thinking it seemed only right that he was an all-rounder. He continued "Nanaji bata rahe thay tumhara bhai bhi cricket khelta hai..." She replied smiling "Ha, Arjun bhaiya bahoot acha khelte hai. Aaj-kal Surat mein hai coaching ke liye. Last week aaye thay toh aap se milna chahate thay. Par aap busy thay..." Sameer half wondered what he could have possibly said to her brother.

Suddenly he asked "Aur hath mein kya hai tumhare?" She looked down at the t-shirt she was holding, having forgotten all about it, and mumbled "Woh... yeh neeche gira tha... toh bus maine socha fold karke rakhti hu." He suddenly not being able to resist teasing her, said with a very straight face "O... mujhe laga ab yeh bhi mujhe pooche bina hi le jaane wali thi. Har visit ke souvenirs collect karti ho kya?" Naina blushed a deep red understanding he was referring to the photo that had disappeared from his room.

He started walking around the room looking on the table and in random drawers as Naina watched in surprise. Few moments later she squeaked "Kya dhundh rahe hai aap?" He replied very solemnly "Check kar raha hu, ke last do Sundays ko kya le gayi ho tum, jo maine ab tak notice hi nahi kiya hai." Naina thinking he was being serious stammered "Main toh upar aayi bhi nahi thi... aur woh photo bhi Preeti ne li thi! Maine toh mana bhi kiya tha..." He turned to her in surprise "Preeti ne?! Aur woh kiss liye?" She accepted "Li toh mere liye hi thi... par maina kaha nahi tha..." As she shifted a little uncomfortably on the spot, she saw a mischievous glint in his eyes and understood that he had been teasing her all along, or at least she hoped so!

She quickly put the t-shirt down on the sofa and said "Main Nanaji ke chasme dhudhne aayi thi... par dikhe nahi..." He gestured towards the study table and said "Mujhe toh bahoot clearly dikh rahe hai... are you sure tum wahi dhundh rahi thi itni der se?" She quickly grabbed them and headed towards the door, but then paused in the doorway and asked "Aap bhi aayenge na neeche khana khane?" He replied "Ha, bus change karke aata hu."

Naina rushed downstairs and handed the glasses to Nanaji saying "Sorry, woh mujhe mil hi nahi rahe thay. Sameer aaye toh unhone dikhaye." Nanaji smiled in understanding "Koi baat nahi beta." She said "Main Ramadhari ko bolti hu ek aur plate lagane ko. Woh bhi change karke aa rahe hai khana khane." Nanaji was very pleased at this unexpected turn of events.

Sameer chuckled to himself after she left, remembering the flustered and slightly scared look on her face. It had taken her more than a few minutes to catch on that he was teasing her, he thought with satisfaction. She had oddly looked very much at ease in his room, that is, till she realised that she wasn't alone. He couldn't imagine himself standing in someone else's room looking that comfortable, not even her room. That thought lead to him wondering just how her room was, he had only seen their lounge and the balcony and caught a glimpse of the kitchen.

As he thought of all this, he absentmindedly changed into a pair of jeans and picked out a black t-shirt from his closet, but then put it back. He instead wore the yellow t-shirt that she had left on the sofa, thinking it would be funny since he had just teased her about her intentions to take it with her.

About ten minutes later the Maheshwari family was sited at the dining table for their first real intimate meal as a family. Seeing the way her eyes narrowed and her lips slightly twitched as soon as he entered the lounge, he knew she had got the joke.

Lunch had been a pleasant affair. Nanaji had mostly guided the conversation, he had told Naina about the new piece of imported equipment that was to arrive in a couple of weeks and how he had asked Sameer to oversee the installation process. They needed to ensure that the staff was trained to use this new machine and that production was up and running before the company delivering the equipment left. Nanaji was hoping that this experience would also help Sameer start preparing for all the additional responsibilities what would start falling his way in the future.

Naina asked a couple of questions about why they were procuring this new equipment and if it was a replacement or an addition with the view of expansion. As Nanaji elaborated a little more on his plans for expansion and the changes anticipated in demand, Sameer was quite surprised to see her listening intelligently and being genuinely interested. Nanaji remarked to her at some point how he would be quite happy for her to get involved in the business too, if she was interested. Naina suddenly feeling that she did not want to seem too keen to step outside the house even before entering it and not knowing how he felt about it, replied that she was just intrigued by the conversation.

Ramdhari had served the Mung-dal-halwa as requested by Naina. Sameer remarked to him "Aare Ramdhari, aaj yeh jo naya mitha banaya hai... bahoot acha bana hai." Ramdhari immediately clarified "Yeh toh Bhabhi bana ke layi hai." Nanaji spoke pleasantly surprised "Naina, beta tumne banaya hai?" Naina replied a little hesitantly "Nanaji, yeh toh jyada Chachiji ne hi banaya hai, maine bus thodisi help ki thi... par mujhe aata hai banana." Nanaji noting her inability to spin even simple lies easily smiled "Koi baat nahi beta, aise hi toh sab seekhte hai. Bahoot acha bana hai. Waise Sameer ko mitha bahoot pasand hai. Har khane mein kuch na kuch mitha hona hi chahiye. Kuch nahi toh fridge mein uske chocolate rakhe hote hai." Naina mentally thanked her Chachiji for her foresight today and decided to add a few new sweets to her cooking skill set.

That night as she lay in her bed, she thought about all that had transpired during the visit. She remembered with pleasure his room and with even greater pleasure the small but sweet conversation that had taken place in the room. Finally, he had talked, she thought with glee! She tried to remember his exact words and the look in his eyes and deduced what was meant but not said by him. Her only regret was that her father had arrived to pick her up just as they were finishing lunch and hence there had not been any opportunity for any further interactions.

As he listened to music laying in bed, he looked at the spot he had found her standing that afternoon and once again felt a little taken aback, by that look he had seen of being-at-home on her face. He wondered what did she feel about this marriage? Did she not feel like something had been forced on her? Was she happy? But, how could she be happy when she didn't even know him... How could she be assured of his worthiness and their compatibility? So many questions... and not a single answer seemed to be in sight.

Visit Number Four

Naina had arrived at the usual time, about 11 am. It had been raining since yesterday evening and there was a little chill in the air. Naina was dressed in a maroon full sleeved shalwar-kameez. She had considered wearing the lucky white outfit today, but Chachiji had completely shot down the idea saying it was too plain and white was not an appropriate colour to be worn to the sasural even before the bidai. She wondered if his cricket match was cancelled due to the rains. How could anyone possibly play outdoors in this weather?

The day before she had attended a baking class run by Mrs Patel in the neighboring society, that her Chachiji had recently discovered. Mrs Patel had moved from Bombay about 6 months back and had started running some classes from her home. Initially, she had been reluctant to attend these baking classes, but after the revelation by Nanaji last week, she had happily headed there. Yesterday, Naina had learnt to bake three types of eggless cakes, a pain vanilla, a chocolate and a layered cake. Well, the layered cake was just dividing the batter into three parts and adding different colours and essence to two parts and then pouring the layers on top of each other and baking it, but apparently it was still considered as a different type of cake! And now knowing about his sweet tooth, she had brought some along.

Handing the box to Nanaji, she said "Nanaji, yeh eggless cake banaya hai kal, toh aap ke liye... try karne ke liye thoda laya hai." Nanaji looked at the box and said "Aare, yeh thoda hai?!" Naina mumbled "Ha... woh maine socha Munna-Pandit bhi shayad khayenge." Nanaji well understanding the real intention behind this box smiled and said "Ha, kyu nahi... Sameer ne kuch chod diya toh unhe bhi mil jaayega." Naina just blushed, hoping he would like it. As she cast a questioning glance around the house, Nanaji clarified "Sameer aaj Rajkot gaya hai match ke liye. Keh raha tha waha koi khaas barish nahi ho rahi hai." He felt very contented, seeing how she seemed to have wholeheartedly embraced this relationship and was already moulding herself into the role of his Sameer's wife.

As It was drizzling, gardening was out of question and so they settled in the lounge, with steaming cups of Ramdhari's special tea. Nanaji opening some old albums said "Yeha baitho beta. Yeh kuch purane photos hai... jo hum jyada tar bahar nahi nikalte. Sameer ke bachpan ke hai uske Mummy Papa ke sath... mera matlab Vishakha ki peheli shaadi ke waqt ke." His expressions and the tone of his voice clearly conveyed to Naina that she was getting a rare and privileged glimpse into the past of this household.

He pointed out a black and white photo of Sameer as a baby probably about four months old, his mother has holding him close as he clasped her Mangalsutra in his chubby little hands and his father standing next to them his hand around his wife's shoulders. Naina could almost hear the baby happily gurgling. They looked so happy.

As Nanaji turned the pages of the photo album, they saw a few more photos of Sameer growing from a baby to a toddler and then to a sweet boy of about four or five, always the center of their little universe. In one photo he was dressed like Krishna with a beautiful peacock feather atop his head, the same mischievous gleam in his eyes that Kanha's must have held at that age. In another he was holding a cricket bat as his father posed as the baller, while in another he sat on his father's shoulders as a slightly worried looking Vishakha held on to his leg.

In another his father was playing the Flute at what seemed like a family gathering. Nanaji remarked "Sushil bahoot achi Basuri bajata tha... Sameer ko bhi music ka shauk usse hi aaya hai." Naina asked "Woh bhi Basuri bajate hai kya?" Nanaji replied "Nahi, Basuri nahi... Sameer Guitar bajata hai." She thought, yes, that suits him... it seems to fit in with his personality.

Naina noticed the changing expressions of melancholy on Nanaji's face, like his usual mask of strength had slipped, just for a bit. He spoke in almost a whisper "Bahoot khush thay teeno... pata nahi kisski nazar lag gayi." Naina gently asked "Kya hua unnke Papa ko?" He replied "Car accident... Sushil aur Sameer ke Dada-Dadi kissi rishtedar ke koi function mein jaa rahe thay. Uss din Sameer ko thoda bukhar tha issiliye Vishkha aur woh sath nahi gaye thay. Bus kahi se ek truck aaya aur humare ghar ki khushiya le gaya... Sushil aur uske Ma-Baap teeno on the spot chal-basay."

He went quite for a minute for two as if reliving the agony of that day all over again. Then taking a deep breath he continued "Sameer toh chota tha.. Bechara kuch theek se samajh bhi nahi paya, bus bahoot dino tak ghanti bajti toh papa papa kehte darwaje pe dundta tha. Par Vishakha ka bahoot bura haal tha. Puri tarha tut gayi thi meri bacchi, ekdum bujh si gayi thi."

Nanaji went on "Teen saal baad maine socha zindagi bahoot baadi hai aur usse aise saalo akela nahi rehna chahiye, issiliye uski duri shaadi ka faisla liya." After another brief pause, he continued "Sushil ke Chachere bhaiyo ko mera Vishakha ke dusri shaadi ka faisla acha nahi laga. Toh sare sambandh tod diye. Mujhe toh lagta hai woh bus bahana tha... asal mein toh property nahi share karna chahate thay. Uske baad maine legally Sameer ko adopt kar liya aur meri sari property ka waris banaya diya usse." Naina thought, now his Surname matching his Nanu's made sense.

Nanaji continued "Vivek ki patni bhi ek chotta bacha chod ke chal basi thi... maine sooch dono bacche sath bade ho jayenge. Par pata nahi... Sameer adjust nahi kar paya uss ghar mein. Galti shayad uss ghar ke bado ki hi thi... phir usse hostel bhej diya."

Naina's heart contracted at the thought of a little boy losing his parents and home, ending up almost like an orphan. She looked at Nanaji with a question in her heart, and as if reading her mind, he continued "Maine socha tha ke usse yeha le aayu... par ussi waqt Sameer ki Nani bhi beemar ho gayi. Shayad beti ka dard usse undhar se kha gaya. Woh do-teen saal tak aadhe dil se beemari se ladhti rahi... maine bahoot khoshish ki par usse bhi bacha nahi paya."

Naina thought she could almost identify the lines of worry those years had left behind on his forehead. She reached out and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. He looked at her small dainty hand holding his own much bigger one in reassurance and felt he had found the right hand to support his beloved grandson in life.

Nanaji then sounding slightly pensive said "Beta, humare yeha reevaj hota hai ke ghar mein jab nayi bahu ko laate hai toh usske hathon mei ghar ki chabiyo ka ek chaalla dete hai, taki usse iss naye ghar mein kabhi koi tala kholne mein koi adchan na ho... par mujhe aisa lag raha hai jaise mein tumhare hawale aapna khazana toh kar raha hu, par jo kissi sandhuk mein band hai, bahar bahoot bada tala laga hai aur chaabi nahi hai. Tumhe chaabi khud dhundhni ya banani padegi."

Naina looked at the man she had to come to loveas her own grandfather over such a short time and held in very high regard, she puton a bright smile and trying to lighten the mood of the moment said "Aap chintamat kijiye... main apne sath ek bahoot bada hathauda le aayungi." Seeing theconfused expression on his face she elaborated "Agar chaabi nahi mili, tohhathaude se tala hi thod dungi!" 

Nanaji hearing this unexpected response burstout laughing, he was now convinced of the validity of his decision more thanever. Teasing her, he replied "Guruji ne toh kaha tha ke tum Laxmi aurAnnapurna ho... Durga bhi ho yeh toh bataya hi nahi!" Seeing her laugh heartilyat his joke, he once again blessed her "Baboot khush raho beta." And hoped hisgrandson would soon realise how blessed he was.